Joel Ajayi
The Presidential candidate in the forthcoming Nigerian Sports Federations elections and Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has declared that his intention is to consolidate on the successes of the Wrestling Federation, deepen grassroots development, enhance visibility, and support other initiatives that will strengthen Nigeria’s overall sports ecosystem.

Adeniyi made this known on Thursday when he appeared before the Electoral Committee of the National Sports Commission to present his manifesto for the upcoming Federations election.

The CGC, whose contributions to sports have been widely acknowledged, said his focus is to build on the existing progress within the Wrestling Federation and expand its reach through stronger sponsorships, better organization, and the elevation of wrestling to a truly national event.

Having made notable impacts in basketball, volleyball, wrestling, table tennis, and other sports, Adeniyi emphasized his desire to serve in a federation where he can make a meaningful difference in a peaceful and unifying environment.

“My passion is for sports in general,” he said, “but I want to be in a federation where we can make a big impact — one that will attract national appeal and contribute meaningfully to the development of sports in Nigeria.”

Adeniyi, a two-term board member of the Wrestling Federation representing both sponsors/philanthropists and the paramilitary sector, commended the Sports Commission for its efforts in ensuring a smooth and transparent electoral process.

“I’m truly impressed with what the Sports Commission has put in place for this election. Unlike before, this has been a very peaceful build-up,” he noted. “This process provides a great opportunity for federation leaders to connect with the Commission, the Committee, and Nigerians at large, to share their vision for the future.”

He further highlighted the importance of unity and collaboration among board members, stressing that his previous board’s greatest strength was their ability to work with one voice.
Adeniyi also called for a shift of focus from internal politics to sports reforms and athlete development.

“Too much time has been spent on election-related issues in the past. Now is the time to key into the President’s reforms that promote peaceful transitions. We must focus on the real task  advancing sports development in Nigeria,” he said.

He outlined several priority areas, including the transition management of ageing champions, who have represented the country for over a decade. According to him, such athletes should be supported to move into new roles as coaches, technical officials, or administrators, while younger athletes are groomed to take their place.

To fill the resulting talent gap, Adeniyi proposed a pragmatic and aggressive grassroots development programme that identifies, nurtures, and supports young athletes to become global champions.
“Some promising talents are already emerging, but they need structured support and mentorship to reach world-class standards. In the next two to three years, we can build the next generation of global champions,” he affirmed.

He further stressed the need to leverage platforms like NUGA and the National Youth Games as vital catchment areas for identifying and developing new talents, particularly in wrestling.

“We witnessed great potential at the last National Youth Games. Our goal is to identify these young wrestlers early, develop and manage them properly, and give them international exposure,” he stated.

Adeniyi concluded by reaffirming his commitment to building on existing successes and consolidating Nigeria’s strength as a sporting nation through collaboration, visibility, and sustainable development at all levels.

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